by Defne Sastim

He’s invincible, he’s a smart-mouthed mercenary that kicks ass and calls people names, he’s sailing into a new ongoing for the first time in nearly two decades, and he’s…. Not Deadpool? That’s right, the new ongoing by Reilly Brown and Fred Van Lente, Slapstick, is surprisingly not yet another Deadpool comic (though it definitely tries). Instead, the star of the show is Slapstick: a troll doll hair icon/teenager turned cartoon character who is making a fun comeback in Slapstick #1, which has been released first as a Marvel Infinite Comic, with a print edition upoming.

Created in 1992, the pink-haired prankster was introduced as an animated character with cartoon world abilities, including invulnerability and reality shifting. In Brown and Van Lente’s fast-paced ongoing, he is a wise cracking killer using Deadpool’s MËRK account (Uber for mercenaries) in a bid to get enough money to move out of his parents’ house. His newest mission finds him crossing paths with your Friendly Neighborhood Which One Is This Again, and together they take down the villain behind the stolen Parker Industries technology.

For a publisher struggling to find its footing with an ever-changing audience, repeating success can be the trickiest task of all. Deadpool’s box office success is one part of why the character has multiplied across Marvel ongoings, and with Slapstick, it’s apparent Marvel wants to expand on the gun-slinging, insult-flinging anti hero premise. While the parallels between the two are evident from the first pages of the comic, Slapstick has to step away from comparisons to succeed on its own. But in this issue, it has the hardest time with just that- team-up with Spider-man antics aside, Slapstick #1’s jokes are sometimes juvenile (dingus!) and repetitive. It’s when Slapstick is bouncing off other characters that the humor and fun really get going.

The art, by Reilly, Diego Olortegui and Jim Campbell, is perfect for the story and character- the people around Slapstick are a stark realistic contrast from his cartoon colors and lines and Olortegui and Campbell use this to the plot’s advantage, especially when a new challenger approaches in the final pages. While some of the jokes fall flat in this issue, the art and writing are a good combination and ultimately a fun ride.

Whether you’re a Deadpool fan looking to add to your monthly subscription pages or a Marvel reader hoping for something slightly different but not really, Slapstick is a solid choice for all.

Yesterday I mentioned Marvel’s push for a new geeneration of male characters like Solo, Thrasher and Mosaic. Slapstick, a Deadpooliverse character whose power is be a clown (timely) wqas a little too weird for print, but is getting his own digital-first comic from Marvel’s Infinite Comics line.

BTW Slapstick was created in 1992 by Len Kaminski and James Fry, two comics household names. NO good IP ever goes wasted!

The living cartoon comes to Marvel NOW! Just don’t try this at home, kids! SLAPSTICK #1 – the newest Marvel Infinite Comic series is taking digital devices everywhere by storm, and you can get your hands on the first issue available today! Creators Fred Van Lente, Reilly Brown and Diego Olortegui bring you a zany, over-the-top debut that should not be missed!

If you think Deadpool is too high brow, boy are you in for a treat! When Steve Harmon, average New Jersey teenager was zapped by mysterious extradimensional energy, he was turned in to Slapstick – the living cartoon! Still with us? Now, after quitting the Mercs for Money, Slapstick is striking out on his own, taking freelance mercenary jobs and moving back in with is parents. Take that Deadpool! But when an army of hostile cartoon characters invades the Marvel Universe, who will save us? Probably Slapstick – it’s his book after all.

Specially designed and optimized for digital devices, Marvel Infinite Comics push the boundaries of what’s possible with digital comics. Taking full advantage of the latest technology, Marvel Inifinite Comics showcase the new storytelling possibilities of a digital canvas while still staying true to the medium’s greatest strengths!

Heidi MacDonald is the founder and editor in chief of The Beat. In the past, she worked for Disney, DC Comics, Fox and Publishers Weekly. She can be heard regularly on the More To Come Podcast. She likes coffee, cats and noble struggle.